2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Sadly, over the Hill [View all]NanceGreggs
(27,813 posts)... to misrepresent what I've said about single payer, despite the fact that I responded to you about it.
So I'll repost my response here (from two days ago) - and then you can explain to everyone how I've allegedly changed my views:
"I have always wanted to see my fellow citizens have the same healthcare I have enjoyed for 40 years.
HRC is not "opposed to single payer", no less "firmly opposed". Saying that something is not do-able does not equate to being against it. Hillary is simply not making promises she knows can't be delivered.
The GOP have voted over 50 times now to repeal Obamacare. Do you honestly believe they're all going to do an about face and embrace single payer just because Bernie says they should?
Look, if you want to believe that a president Bernie can somehow miraculously deliver single-payer to US citizens, that's your prerogative. But he can't, not with the current make-up of Congress.
ALL of the arguments FOR universal healthcare make perfect sense. It IS more economical than private insurance. It also has a positive impact not only on the health of individuals, but on entire communities.
The first thing that has to be done in the US is educating the public about how universal healthcare works - and that will mean undoing the the negative propaganda perpetrated by the Republicans for decades. It also means clearing up the "myths" that many people believe are reality. I am still asked by US friends if my doctor works for the gov't, if a gov't official has to sign-off on any treatment I require, if I am restricted to a doctor the gov't has assigned me to, etc.
I've no doubt that over 90% of Americans would demand universal healthcare - if they all KNEW how it operates. But the vast majority of them don't - and that education isn't going to come about overnight. People hear "higher taxes" and "socialized medicine" - and dismiss the entire idea out-of-hand. They think of the gov't dictating what care they receive and from whom. They picture having to travel miles to see a "gov't-approved" physician they've been assigned to. They imagine bureaucrats making their healthcare decisions for them.
ALL of that has to be overcome. Without that groundwork in place, you're always going to have your own fellow citizens actually fighting AGAINST any move towards real reform out of simple ignorance of the facts.
Right now - aside from all of the above - the current composition of Congress is what it is. And whether HRC or Bernie is elected POTUS, single payer is a losing battle. It's just not going to happen in this political environment.
I've seen it over and over here on DU. When BSers are asked exactly HOW Bernie is going to get single payer passed, the answers become, "Well, uh, well, ya see ..." And saying "Well, at least he'd try" is pointless. With all of the challenges currently facing the nation, having a president who's wasting time tilting at windmills doesn't accomplish anything.
Hillary isn't pushing single payer because she KNOWS that in today's political climate, it's just not a realistic goal - and certainly not one she is going to promise to achieve just because it sounds good on the campaign trail.
Idealism is great. Setting high goals is fantastic. But reality has to be taken into consideration. At some point, you have to say "This is what we can do - so let's get started on doing it".
But as I said, YMMV. If you believe that a president Bernie could magically persuade Republican congress-critters to approve single payer, you are perfectly within your rights to do so."
That being said, please proceed, Fumesucker, to explain how I've changed my position on single-payer.